[3][6] Shovel Knight is inspired by gameplay and graphics of platformer games developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Another spin-off, the roguelike Shovel Knight Dig, was co-developed with Nitrome and released on September 23, 2022, for Windows, Nintendo Switch, and Apple Arcade.

[12][13] In the base campaign retroactively titled Shovel of Hope,[12] players control the eponymous adventurer as he goes on a journey to rescue his partner Shield Knight while fighting the Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter.

[12][17] Aside from the main quest, players are encouraged to collect treasure inside levels to improve Shovel Knight's abilities.

[15][18] By finding a salesman named Chester hidden inside levels, the player can purchase items called Relics with treasure.

[17][20] As an optional challenge, players have the choice of destroying checkpoints to be awarded treasure, at the risk of being sent back to an earlier location in the level should they die.

[22] A local cooperative multiplayer DLC allows for two players to complete the main campaign in tandem, and co-op on Nintendo platforms is compatible with Shovel Knight series amiibo figures, allowing players to store customized characters or summon cosmetic fairies.

[23][24] A body swap mode allows players to alter the genders or identifying pronouns of certain characters in the Shovel of Hope campaign.

Designer Nick Wozniak stated that the idea for the game started out as "sort of as a joke conversation over lunch that kind of got too serious".

[33] Other specific inspirations include Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, DuckTales, Super Mario Bros. 3, the Mega Man series, U.N. Squadron, and Dark Souls.

[36] The game was announced on March 17, 2013, alongside the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund development, with a minimum goal of US$75,000.

The campaign reached its objective in late March and went on to collect a total of $311,502, fulfilling all announced "stretch goals" for additional features, by its end on April 13.

The Enchantress' design was inspired by traditional Japanese attire, so Yacht Club initially experimented with kimono and robes for her male counterpart as well.

Yacht Club's artists originally explored skirted designs for male Shield Knight, but these did not make the cut.

Certain ornamental aspects of Shield Knight's armor were removed or reduced in size in order to make the character look more masculine.

[51] Prior to 2017, the game was sold with the name Shovel Knight, with various additional campaigns appearing as free downloadable content.

"[61] Infendo.com called it "a brilliant homage to a bygone era, yet an equally fresh, captivating and innovative game"[63] and Nintendo Life praised the 3DS version's "excellent controls, gorgeous graphics, an incredible soundtrack and endearing characters ... top-notch level design, varied gameplay, hidden rooms, optional challenges and a deceptively rich combat system.

[67] Yacht Club Games wrote in April 2018 that 2 million copies of Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove had been sold.

[88] Shovel Knight appears as a playable guest character in many games[88] including Indie Pogo, Blade Strangers, Cook, Serve, Delicious: Battle Kitchen, Move or Die, Dino-Run DX, Runner3, Riverbond, Rivals of Aether, Blaster Master Zero, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Road Redemption, Epic Manager, C-Wars, Starr Mazer, Runbow, All-Stars Dungeons and Diamonds, Ghost Police, Mutant Mudds Super Challenge, Pixel Noir, and Mighty Quest.

Ultimate, Azure Striker Gunvolt 2,[92] Two Brothers, Yooka-Laylee, Aegis Defenders, The Reward: Tales of Alethrion,[93][94] River City Ransom: Underground, Creepy Castle, Puzzle Depot,[95] Crypt of the NecroDancer, Enter the Gungeon, Katana Zero, Balatro, and For Honor.

[97][98] A prequel titled Shovel Knight Dig was co-developed with Nitrome and released on September 23, 2022, for Windows, Nintendo Switch, and Apple Arcade.